VXN STUDIOS

The makeup worn for your photoshoot ranks up there in importance as your wardrobe and the photographer you choose for your photoshoot. I don’t mean the brand of makeup but the quality of the technique in which it’s applied. No matter how natural and clean the look is supposed to be, you should have some type of makeup on. At minimum, a sheer foundation.

Makeup is a personal preferrence and when it comes to Glamour modeling, my preferrence is to always where false lashes. It is after all – Glamour. Headshots/Beautyshots require less makeup because the camera is focused on your face but when you are doing 3/4 to full length body shots, minor details like natural eyelashes tend to get lost. In fashion, where the model is not the focus, lashes may be insignificant. In Glamour, the model’s attractiveness is the focus. Lashes are attractive. It’s feminine.

Back on topic about makeup. Many models starting out are on a budget when it comes to paying for various things needed for a photoshoot. When funds are tight, makeup tends to be the corner that gets cut. If you’re not going to pay for or have access to a quality makeup artist, please learn all that you can about applying it yourself!

I have been doing makeup for a while. I’ve worn lipstick and face powder since the sixth grade. I’ve always had an obsession for makeup … before even developing one for shoes! I tend to like classy, natural glamorous looks for my glamour shoots and for all shoots I focus first on skin then whatever feature is dominant for the particular model (usually eyes).

Many people have asked how I learned to do makeup. I believe that makeup is a form of art and as a child I excelled in drawing, painting, etc. To expand my knowledge of makeup, in addition to practice, I read books and watched … wait for it … youtube videos! Yes, youtube is very helpful! I learned how to perfect my smokey eye watching a youtube tutorial and you can learn the techniques too. There’s many other things on there as well.

Think Beyonce would have made it far if she put out pics like this?

JLo looks “regular” in her before picture … oh what a little makeup does.

Wow, Pam!

The point to this post is this: Do NOT do another photoshoot without having your makeup taken care of. If you’re paying for your photoshoot, the extra money is worth it. If you’re not paying for your shoot, you have no excuse not to. Makeup can help you look like a professional even if you’re still an amateur.

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Lets face it, not everyone is blessed with creativity. For the rest of us, at least we can rely on inspiration. When creating your portfolio (as a photographer or model) you’ll notice you’re going to have a need for concepts. The more often you shoot, the more concepts you need … or at least it should work that way. After a while the creativity well starts to run dry … then what do you do?

Open your favorite magazine! I’ve even seen art directors from magazines do it! Your shoots should be planned on some level. Either by you or your photographer. A good starting point is to figure out what type of images you need. If I’m shooting glamour, I look at top glamour magazines. Same goes for fashion. If I’m looking to do headshots, I decide which type I’m shooting (yes there is a difference) and look for examples on the internet among other places.

As a model looking at magazines, first take note of the type of images you see in said favorite magazine. Assuming you would like to one day be in that magazine or ones like it, there’s several things to take note of. Quality of the images, style of wardrobe, and poses. In most cases, casting agents like to see professional  images that give them the best idea of what you would look like in the role they are casting for.

I currently have subscriptions to 3 magazines and frequently visit websites of many others. I save pictures from the internet for ideas and I think it’s a good idea as a model to do so as well. When a model contacts me for a shoot, it’s very helpful if they send me images showing me what we’re going for.

Photoshoots should be fun but if you’re a working model, or wish to be, be sure to put in effort even before your shoot begins.

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I’m excited to finally have VXN Studios’ very own blogsite. Hopefully you will find what is posted to be interesting or helpful. Please bookmark the site and check back at least once a week. If you have a suggestion or questions you’d like to see posted, please email me.

A lot of people who know me as Kaylana Reese or VH1’s Classy are shocked to find that I am now a photographer. I think it is a natural progression. I am blessed to have had the opportunities presented to me but realistically it is not my goal to be a glamour model forever. For those of you unfamiliar with my work, I was in King magazine twice (once as a Coors Light Centerfold model), a Smooth Girl Rookie (and two time Hot 100 model in Smooth Magazine). I also walked the runway twice for BET’s Rip the Runway, was Classy on VH1’s Real Chance of Love 2. In 3 years, I’ve done more than I ever could have dreamed. Now I want to help models with what I know … from experience.

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